What is Real Conservatism, and why is it so important?

by Mark Angelides

Up to two fifths of Americans describe themselves as Conservatives, and in England that number is roughly the same. The beliefs and principles that relate both the US and UK Conservatives are generally similar, yet any individual definition of what Conservatism means to each person who identifies as such would probably differ greatly. And of course, those who are not Conservative have a very different view as to what principles (if any) underlie its present incarnation.
Those on the Left (who would be happy to identify as Liberal) generally define themselves through a core set of “values”. That these are often contradictory, and in many cases at odds with other groups that describe themselves is Liberal doesn’t really matter, what is important is that when someone says ”the Liberal position” or “a Liberal cause”, the majority automatically identify.
But this is not the case with Conservatives. It doesn’t help that the term is so often used in negative or derogatory ways, because Conservatives are a very broad church.
Did you know that there are scores of tests online to find out if you are a Liberal or a Conservative (I’m not sure why anyone would really need this btw), and after having done several, I seem to fit into a group called “Moderate Conservative”.
“You scored 51% which means you are
 
51% Moderately conservative. You believe in personal responsibility, limited government, free markets, individual liberty, traditional American values.”
But why should I base my idea of who I am on a multiple choice quiz? My subtleties are almost infinite (not just me of course) and my opinions change as circumstances change. And something tells me that the tests are designed by people who may have a more Liberal perspective.
 
The Atlantic provides an interesting list of possible “beliefs” that cover a wide range. And whilst some may be more relevant than others, still gives quite a good overview (for Americans only):

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  1. An aversion to rapid change; a belief that tradition and prevailing social norms often contain within them handed down wisdom; and mistrust of attempts to remake society so that it conforms to an abstract account of what would be just or efficient.  
  2. A desire to preserve the political philosophy and rules of government articulated in the Declaration of Independence and the U.S. Constitution.
  3. A belief that it is imperative to preserve traditional morality, as it is articulated in the Bible, through cultural norms. 
  4. A belief that it is imperative to preserve traditional morality, as it is articulated in the Bible, using cultural norms and the power of the state.
  5. An embrace of free-market capitalism, and a belief in the legitimacy of market outcomes. 
  6. A belief that America is an exceptional nation, a shining city on a hill, whose rightful role is leader of the free world.
  7. A belief that America should export its brand of democracy through force of arms.
  8. The conviction that government should undertake, on behalf of the American polity, grand projects that advance our “national greatness” and ennoble our characters.
  9. An embrace of localism, community and family ties, human scale, and a responsibility to the future.
  10. A belief that America shouldn’t intervene in the affairs of other nations except to defend ourselves from aggression and enforce contracts and treaties.
  11. A desire to return to the way things once were.
  12. Affinity for, identification with, or embrace of Red America’s various cultural cues. (For example, gun ownership, a preference for single-family homes oriented around highways rather than urban enclaves organized around public transit, embrace of country music, disdain for arugula and fancy mustard, etc.)
  13. Disdain for American liberalism, multiculturalism, identity politics, affirmative action, welfare, European-style social policies, and the left and its ideas generally.
  14. A desire to be left alone by government, often coupled with a belief that being left alone is a natural right. 
  15. A principled belief in federalism.
  16. The belief that taxes should be lower and government smaller.
  17. The belief that the national debt and deficits put America in peril.
  18. The belief that whenever possible, government budgets should be balanced.
  19. Consciousness of the fallibility of man, and an awareness of the value of skepticism, doubt and humility.
  20. Realism in foreign policy.
  21. Non-interventionism in foreign policy.

And of course some of them are just plain nonsense.
 
So what is it at heart that really unites Conservatives all over the world? I personally identify as a Burkean Conservative (as in Edmund Burke). His philosophy is deep and wide ranging and may seem almost like home to some of you. Here’s a brief encapsulation of some of his finer points coutesy of Wikipedia:
“That meant limits on the powers of the Crown, since he found the institutions of Parliament to be better informed than commissions appointed by the executive. He favored an established church, but allowed for a degree of religious toleration.[14] Burke justified the social order on the basis of tradition: tradition represented the wisdom of the species and he valued community and social harmony over social reforms.[15] Burke was a leading theorist in his day, finding extreme idealism (either Tory or Whig) an endangerment to broader liberties, and (like Hume) rejecting abstract reason as an unsound guide for political theory.”
 
If we intend Conservatism of any form to survive, we must examine its roots and what it means in today’s world. We should not let the Liberals define who we are based on one catch-all word. Learn where you political ideas come from and what historical precursors they may have and be better armed to face the liberalism of the modern Liberal.

Views:

1 thought on “What is Real Conservatism, and why is it so important?”

  1. I think real conservatives believe in doing things right the first time. This stops a lot of useless spinning of wheels. The Democrats are just natural Fluck-ups. They are geared that way from kindergarten as even then they worry about trans-fatty acids instead of just enjoying the damn cookie! They are worry-warts, fearful persons. Then they wish to dump their fears onto the motoring public about how bad gasoline is and put us in little slow electric bump cars. The cars which they are heavily invested in their stocks and will be passing legislation through the use of liberal Supreme Court justices that all citizens must purchase Obamacare, a new General Electric Two Seater Automobile from Wal-Mart, and cookies containing trans-fatty-acids will be seized and violators fined and imprisoned. Republicans and conservatives enjoy life and want you to enjoy it also. Democrats or liberals have much higher suicide rates. Ninety-nine percent of Democrats are homosexuals and the remaining one per cent are taking evening college classes for it. Republican men like Republican women. Democratic men will sleep with anything and cause AIDS outbreaks across the world! Nothing is off-limits for them and is why laws regarding stray animals are enforced. If not there would be Cocker-Spaniels showing up at polling places trying to vote for their daddies. This could be considered a conflict of interest for Bill Clinton or John Podesta. Both were interested in the same
    “B”-itch Dog!

    Reply

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